Apparatus for applying reenforcing to film



Aug. 16, 1932. c. H. MEEKER 1872317 APPARATUS FOR APPLYING HEENFORCINGTo FILM Original Filed Aug. 6. 1927 5 ShetS-Sheet l 'l i 9 l u f. 65

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*Pff w 'f5 Aug 16, 1932. C, H, MEEKER AFPARATUS FOR APPLYING REENFORCINGTo FILM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Aug. 6. 192'? Aug. 16, 1932. c.H. MEEKER APPBATUS FOR APPLYING REENFORCING TO FILM Original Filed Aug.6. 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 mw; www

Patented Aug. 16, 1932 UNITED STATES CHARLES H. MEEKE'R, 'or RIVERSIDE,CALIFGRNIA APPARATUS FR APPLYING REENFORCI'NG T) FILM originarappneation mea August 6, 1927, sef'ii 1in.` 211,107.

My invention relates to the motionlpict're industry and 'more`'particularly to `a novel machine for applying reenforce'ments ,to a

motion-picture film, and is a division ofvmy 3,', co-pending applicationiled,Aug`st 6,'1927,

Serial No. 211,107 entitled Method'of 'applying- 'reenfoi-'ci'ng t'ofilm.

in vproj ecting motion pictures on a screen', a positive strip of Afilm'is tised.` This 'strip "ig 'of film is wound on a reel and theprojector 'umvi'nds it from this reel onto another, in 'the meantimeprojecting enlarged ima-ges of the picture in each frame ofthe film.These enlarged images are focused on the screen ("i; and appear in'rapid succession. )The yfilm is driven intermittently by sprockets'Whichei'r- 'gage the film through projections which enter sprocketholes on 'each side of the film and close to the edges thereof. Thethin'strip "QG of film separating the sprocket holes andthe edges iseasily broken, and 'the useful life 0f a film is limited by thisconsideration. y

I have found that by reenforcin'g the edges of the film 'with threadsbonded thereto, the

' iiseful life 'of the film iS increased many fold in so far as thesprocket h'o'les do not tearout- 'Ward to the edge of the film; Such vareen'- f'or'ced film is the su'bjecto'f my Patent No. 1,636,525, issuedJ'nly 19, 1927,entitled"Ree'nj t'to forced moving picture film.

It is an object of my present invention to 'provide an apparatus forree'nforcing inoltion-picture film.

., Certain bonding materials are highly vola;- tile and form explosive'vapors 4when 'exposed 'tothe air.

It is an object of my invention to provide an apparatus for removingsuch vapors from the 'vicinity of the machine.

It is a further object of 'my inventionto provi-de an apparatus forcondensing these vapors.

Certain bonding materials will 'not suitably adhere or cohe're to thelightssen'siftit'e veml'- "4B sion on the film itself, 'and it is oftennecessary to remove all traces of the emulsion from the faces adjacentto 'the edges of the Ifilm in order to giveva clean bonding surface onthe Celluloid itself.

It 'is an Object of my invention "to 'previas to dryinider tension afterthe reenforcin'g members have 'been applied, vent shrinking and curling.

It is an object ofmy inventionto provide in orde'r to prejiwided andthis application filed 'October 20,

an 'apparatus inwhi'ch reenforcinginenbers are applied to a -umlertension.

lTo assist the dryin'g Lof the film, especially when large capacitymachines arefempioyed,

it is assieme to 'supply @aia/@iai drying, means 'in the 'form 'of heat,drafts of'air, or

chemicals.

A further object ofmy'inye'nti'on -is t0 provide an apparatus forassistingthe drying of the newly reenorced 'ilm.`

I have foam-a a. desirable undef @naar 'conditions to coat thjenevvlyapplied bonding material with a coating such as pQWder. This not "onlyeliminates an' 'possibility er the motionpicture film held edges of thereenforced lm stickin'ftg'ether when' w0naa-naree1,batia ad f1 ifeaincreases the useful life the iilin;'

It 'is an obect of'fn'y invention to provide a means forapplying ya thincoating t'o 'a motionfpietarelm--' "I furtherobject'ofiny invention vis'to provide an 'apparatus for ien'i'oying' 'superfluous 'eoatiagmateriarnfbfathe race of the aim. vin reenfoicing 'filinihyfineanstif/threads bonded to the edges thereof,"itf is' often diffiy@uit toretain the thread on fthe' edgefand prevent it frommovingto av1'Jl0sit'io'-n Yionuthe snriaeeof the armor beeofningaaahedio the edgeiii af position 'other (than at the' Cen;- ter thereof.

1t is an 'object of 'my invention to lprovide I 'a machine capable offastening' 'reenforcing `r'ieinbers to the edges of4 a film andcentrally spaced thereon. v

In certain. cases it is undesirable'to h'a'v'e than the film itself.

It is an 'object of 'my invention to proyid'e an apparatus `in which thethickness of 'an the ediles of a motion-'pictiire film 'thi'cke'i` 'edgeree'nforcement is 'a tiniform desired thickness.

Further objects and advantages will'loeY apparent from the accompanyingdrawings and the following description.

In the drawings I illustrate one form' of my invention, but it should beunderstood that I do not wish to be limited" tothisparticulaform,wishing my invention to be limited only by the appended claims.

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view ofdmy apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a side view ofthe bonding unit of myinvention. 'p

Fig. 3 is a front view of the bonding unit taken in the directionI ofthei arrow 3 of Fig.2.

Fig. 4 is a sectionv taken along the line 4-4'ofFig. 2. ,y y

Fig. 5 is anenlargedview, partially sectioned, of a portion of Fig. 3.fy Fig. 6 is a perspective viewv ofthe'g'rindingand braking means of myinvention.`v

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6.' f f.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view talcboxused.

Fig. 9 is a'horizontal section taken as inidicated by the line 9 9' ofFig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a cross section of afilm''beifore treatment.

Fig. 11 isl a cross section fof a filmafter grinding. y Fi 12 is acrosssection ofy'a film 'aftergthe reenforcing has'been applied.V

Fig. 13 isa section taken ofFig.3. l

Fig. l'shows a four-leggedframef porting a top plate 16 an` d a s lie lf17. vBetween the top plate 16 and the shelf'- 17, and secured to each,is a pair of vertical ro ls 1 8 An unwinding reel 20 and, belowA it awinding reel 21, are supported on arnisvf22and -23 .respectively, whichare in turnfcla'mped to the rods 18. v i f Extending rearwardly 'fromthe rodsy 18 are legs 25 between which are pivotally sup,- ported'twofilm sprockets 26 and 27, and a driving sprocket 28, the latter. beingfixed to a shaft 29. A worm gear 30 is' mounted on the shaft 29, andmeshed with the worm gear 30 is a worm 31 attached to ajveitical shaft32 which is j ournaled in a supporting frame 33 attached to the shelf17. vA squared portion of the vertical shaft engages-a drivenfrictionplate 34 which is incontact with a driving friction plate 35attachedI to the shaft 36 of a motor 3 7. The driven plate 34 is adaptedto slide vertically on the squared Ythe speed of the driving sprocket 28can be used, v

Secured to, and extending vertically from,

T the center-ofthetop plate' 16 is a square post 40,( supporting at itstop a truss 42 which pivotally holds' threefilm sprockets 44, 45,

and 46'-"whieh are axially and vertically aligned with film sprockets26, 27, and 28 respectively, 'A lilni sprocket 47 ism'ounted inthet'ruvs's 42 so vthatits 'outer periphery ex tendsjust forwardfof' thefrentf face'of the sqnarepostAO. FA vertieal tj 'nkO extendsdownwardfrom the truss 42to 1a pointl just above the floor en ,whichgtheframe 15; r'es ts.' '2 The tank 50 surroundstlielsprockets 26,1127, 28, 44,I45, and '46, andprovdes'a drying space 51 for a motionfpic't'ure is'passed around thefsprocliets a mannerl ,tov be described. atthe'tpaomLoftuiaiik v5o inthe drying .Spilfiet is adiylis @11.5.3 drivenby a pulley 54y attached tothe lower'fend of the vertical Shaft-, 321just' beneath the' sh'eli 17.; L The dryfan- 53 forces-a 'eurrfentfofupv'ard through thetankO, A Theair'may be. heated eans of, a lheatingy.unit 455 placed below .there 1 l Ai'motionpictre film 57 has-anemulsion 58 nioililntedf'on'one faceof a Celluloid back ing'f5l 57 isthreaded, emulsion side towa "d the .post 40 from the l,un-winding reelQQIJJPWadLthrQugl a brake ,indicated bythe'nuineral 6 0, a grinderindicated by the @metall-62mm. adjustable 'guide 63, a bonding unit=64,. an exhaust` tank 65, and-a, talc box, A 66..V These .pieces of japparatus are mounted 4vertically labove one another and will bedescribed later. The filinpasses over the filnisrrekts 47, 4412245727; 46 and around the driving sprocketf28 after which it is. wound onltheiv'indi1ig' reel y21.

. device :orremxoving any'slack in the film between the driving sprocket28 andthe winding. reel 21 isprovided by a pulley 68'secur'edtothe/shaft 2f). of thedriving sprocket 28, and a similar pulley69attached to the shaft .to whichwthewinding freel. 21 is secured. Thesepulleys. 68 .and 69 are connected by a belt 70. Thus one revolution ofthe driving sprocket28 would turn the winding reel 21 onecompleterevolution if the film stretched ,that'of lthe hub of the winding reel,it follows that one .rev olution, of. the former would move the film 57a smallerdistance than one revolution of v,the latt'cnn- `The vsamelength Leraar."

of film yis wound on the reel 21y asv it passes the sprocket. Thusthejreel 21 willneces'sarily turnslower than thesprocket '28,' thisbeing taken care of by the slippage of the-belt 70. This action alwaystends to keep the film` 57 taut between the sprocket 28 and the reel:21, thus winding the film tightly onthela'tter The film 57 is moved bythe ldriving film sprocket 28. and is thus driven ata pointjust previousto being finally wound on the winding reel 21. The driving tensioncreated is thus transmitted through' vthe whole 'length of'film up tothepoint where it leaves the unwinding reel 20.l A braking means insertedatthis point will control the 'tension of the 'entire unrolled portionof the film. f l 'Such 'a y'braking means is vprovidedV bythe brake 604which is best shown in Fig., 6. A lower projection of the top plate 16lhas a pair of ears 76 and holds 'afelt p'ad 77 in' a vertical plane. Afelt pad ,88 secured 'on a plate 89 is mounted adjacent tol thefelt pad77 b'y means of 'two adjusting@ screws *90 which pass through the plate89 "and are threadedly received in each ear 76 of the low# Herprojection 75. The'film 57 passes upward between the pads 77 and 88.-Tighteningthe adjusting screws 90 allows anydesired braking action to beexerted on the :movement 'of the vfilm and consequently any desiredamount o 'fften's'ion in the 'film 57 as it passes lthrough theapparatus. l v Passing upward fromv the brake ,60 4'the film 57 proceedsthrough the topM plate 16 and through an annular longitudinalchannel '92of' the semi-cylindrical guide`93' offtli'e grinder 62. The gui'de yispivoted at `its ufpperend to the sides'of the square post-40 'by twothumb vscrews 95 which passt rough the upper corners ofthe guide.Anareuate channel 96 is cut ineachside of the guide 93 to such a 'depththat' the 'annul ar longitudinal channel'92 is intersected. The dges97lof the film 57 are exposed as the v-57 `'passes through the annularlongitudinal f Ichannel 92, as clearly shown in Figs. V6 and 7. yThilethus exposed, the emulsion 58ndjacent vto the edges V97 of thefilnr57iscon tacted 'by a pair of `bevel `e`d,'grin(fling.wheels 99 which aresecured fto a shaft 100jour`n'aled in thesquare post 40 andseparatedftherefrom by` 'washers 101. A iie'xible drive link isconnected tothe shaft 100 and tov the jupper end of the vertical shaft32 of thefilm; driving mechanism previouslydescribed. The drive 'link103 is suitably journaled in guidesi'104 attached to one of the rods1.8. Y

yhe pressure between the emulsion 58' of thelilm 57 and the grindingwheels 99 is regu'lated by a weight 107 attached to a cord 108 whichpasses over a pulley 109 rotntably secured-to" the top plate 16, thecord108 being attached tothe lower end lof'tliejguide ,93 as indicatedlby the numeral 1:10. Increasing-'the Weight 107 'eXe'rl'S Ea-Ie'afrvvad pullltlie bottom` of the guide l93. This guide pivots aboutthe thumb screws 95, thus bringing the emulsionof-the film 57 intocloser contact with the grinding wheels 99.

The angle between the grinding surface of the wheels 99 and the tangentto the film 57 'at lthe edge thereof is relatively small so that acorner of the emulsion 58 is ground away astlie'film 57 passes throughthe grinder, leaving exposed a surface of the Celluloid backing 59 ofthe iilml57 as indicated at 111. This p0rtion 111 presents' a cleanCelluloid surface to the action ofthe bonding material later to be'applied to hold the reenforcing threads in place. v f This grindingoperation is clearly shown by comparing Fig. 10 with Fig. 11.v Fig. 10is a cross section of a film 57 showing the emulsion 58 and theCelluloid backing 59, before -grin'ding.`"'Fig.-11 shows a cross sectionof the same film after grinding. Here the faces of the emulsion 58adjacent to the edges 97have .beenfremoved, exposing the Celluloid ofthe'filin itself.I While the'grinding wheels 9916.0 not have grooved orridged outer faces, lliavei'found that an arrangement such asshowngri'nd's the film as indicated in Fig. 11, the' emulsion fbeingremoved a distance back f`1onitheedge,fand the lnewly formed inclinededge lof the emulsion being cup-shaped. Furthermore, the grinding wheelsseem not to penetrate the Celluloid backing itselfleav ing aA relativelysquare corner on it, as' indicatedf'at 113.- Y f A 'Frornthe grinder 62the lmpasses upward through ythe V`adjustable guide 63. As best shown inFigi-13; this guide has a collar 114 which surrounds, andis secured to,the square post 40'. The collfar 114 provides horizontal grooves115"to"tl 1e" right and to the left of j the square post 40.l 'locks 116are adapted to slide iliorizontally'in the grooves 115, their positionbeing 'controlled by screws 117 which "are v"pivoteid therein, and whichare threaded through a 'portion ofthe collar 114 as shown-fin F ig. 13.The film 57 passes through a channel 'bounded bythe front face of Athecollar 114", the inner edgesof the blocks 116"and two fijontplates 118,each or the front platesf1'18:beingfscured to o'ne of the'blioclrs 116by screws 119. The front of the'colla'r 114 and the frontplates11,8:thus determine the plane of the film 57, while the sidewiseposition of the film 57 is determined by the blocks Secured to 'thesquare post 40above the guide 63 1s the bonding unit 64 which appliesthe ieenforcing members to the edges of the film' 57 'as itl passestherethrough. The bonding unit 64 haska tank 120 secured to a base plate121. The plate 121 has a pin 122 which sits in a recess in a collar 125which is in tui-n clamped to the post 40. The upper end of the' tank 120.is held .adjacent to the square 'pest 4o eymeahs of a 'Spring Clamp12e.

At the top of the tank is a lilling opening closed by a cap 128. AT-itting 129 communicates with the top interior of the tank 12() andlias'a pressure release valve 130 extending up-wardtherefrom. The lowerend of thejT-tting holds the upper end of a levelgage glass tube 131.vThe lower end of this glass tube communicates with the lower interior ofthetank through an L-fitting 132.

yA' pressure' tank' 133 lsupplies pressure to the top oi the tank 120through a hose 133a connecting thepressure tank 133 and a valve 134 atthe top oifthe tank 120. The tank 120 holdsa supply of liquid bondingmaterial, the height of which is at all times indicated by the levelgage. u j

As' a bonding material anyliquid adhesive may be used. I prefer tol usea Celluloid solvent, however, and more particularly a solution olCelluloid in amyl acetateand acetone together with a small amount ofbutyl phthalate. A bonding material containing dissolved Celluloid, andcapable of dissolvingl cel'- luloid, forms auni'tary bond with thecelluloid backing 59 of the film, so that when dry the bonding materialand the iilm backing 59 are wunitaryv mass. A bonding material which Ihave .found most satisfactory is made bymixing275c. c. acetone, 27 5 c.c. amyl acetate, 50 celluloid,I and 7 .5 g. di-butylphthalate.. ,f i Thebase plate 121has'a pair of legs135 which extend forward of the post 40and snugly engage the two side faces thereof as indicated best inFig..4. The inner surfaces of their-ont portions of the arms 135arecuton a slant as indicated l by the numeral 136 in Fig. 5, so thatthe vbottom edges ofthe arms 135 are closer together than the upperedges.

, Each arm 135 is drilled and. tapped at 138 to receive a needle valve 140 controlled by a l-:nurled knob 141. The` needle valve 140 does not,extent` to the4 inner edge of the arm 135, but'stops'short otit, leavinga. well 144 at the inneredgeof the bore. A bore through.eachl arm 135'is in communication with the interior of the tank 120 through anopening: 146 in the bottorrr thereof. The needlevalves 14()` can beefany construction which allows al control of ythe amount of bonding iiuidpassing from the bores 145 into the wells 144.

A vertical slot V is cut in the metal of each arm 135 at the bottom ofthe Wells 144. These slots receive the edges of the film 57 and are ofa. width slightly greater than twice the thickness of the iilm in orderto allow patchesto pass, and the distance from the bottom of one slot tothe bottom of the corresponding vslot of the other arm is fromonesixteenth to threesiirteenths of an inch greater than the width ofthe film used. These dimensions are not invariable and are 'given merelyto clarify-the description, and

65 I do not to belim'ited to these distances.

The lower corners 162 at the base of the slots 160 are rounded .slightlyas shwn in Fig.- 5 in order more easily to pass the reen-forcing threadin a manner to' be described; v l. Directly above eachzslot f160.a;hole.l63 is drilled throughthe .metal at the top ofzthe wells.144.. The .holes 163 ;are approximately tangential to the inner uppersurfaces of the front 4portions fofthe larm ,135 as. shown; .inFigs.4and5;,.;, v fv f :i l Each Well 144 isclosedby 'two thin 4plates164and 165 mountedion *the slanting-surface 136 withy their edges spacedal distanceapart equal to the width ofthe vertical slot 160..y Extendingbelow and. outward"l from the lower collar,125 are `two arms;1,66-.Whieh are bent forward attheir lower ends .to each. pivotallysupport aspect-167.;v Each spool167 is held between' 'a compression.spring .168 Vse'- cured to the Aarm166, and; athumbfscrew 16.9 screwedonto the end of each armv-166.` .'By tightening the thumb screw: 1,69the spoolfl isfacted on byabra'king means throughbeing compressedbetweenyther spring 168 .andit'he thumb screw.'1h69 .i}v.; ij 1'.Mfr-wml: Woundonthe spoels167 is areenforcing thread 117,142.{Imis-threadmay; b e-.o't ahy/matr terial with .twisted,-.or. untwistedibres,; and maybe Saturated vth.a,-Soluti:0n- @i .bonding met-Grial, .0rmay Contain -nO-bend-ns material. The thread v171,@pzlars'ses .11j) wardaround vfthe corner 162 of the base plate 121,-whencajit passes upwardthrough the lverrticawl,y slt '160, .the well 144 through,thehole.163.'`.The @dass 0f the; film TSimalteneOuSlytpass .un .Wardv threugh. .lie.fvertiealf S1 t..l.60., .the ...Well .144. .the ,hole lfandthrogh'theg-*Sletisepar rating thelrlees 164.21mlfitssidewise no.- sitionbeing' adjustably-detemnined bygthe guide ,'15 '1 'MNH When theina-chine nEoperation-thewells 144 .are filled withfbonding material andin passingthrough these wells the threadI 1.7.1, the edgeofthe '57,.andthe sides adjacent to thp edges are, allwetted L with bonding. ma,-ter1a.-

VIas

portantA ,that .thei I sl-'ight sideward pulling force tending A toseparateg the string and the edge iofltlie'.- lilmkeeps ,the .threadcentered on the edgeiof ,thefilm inSQa/diof, allcwing, l it lto creeptowardtlieffrontorf rear `off th,ef1l ml or, in some cases,`y' l eavi ngthe edge'ofthelilm and emplantingitsel on atacelthereof.; .This slightsidewardY p ull .tending to separate. the thread froml the'iilmisgeasily resisted by fthe cohesive actionIl ,oi the bonding, materialwhich saturates the thread and the Elmedge. This cohesiveaction,`together with .surface tension, also tendsto drawthethread intointimate lcont-,act with the edge of the film. i.

.Extendingupward and secured to the1eX- haust tankl65 are. front andrear -filmgu'iding members l172 and, 173 respectively-These film-guidingmembers are thin flexible plates of -a Width :'slightlyf greater thanthe1frames of the 1ilm557vf, They are-held -a distance apartwhieh-is-slightly greater. than twice the thicknessot the-film, beingthu-s spacedvby spacers 1723. The: lower` ends ofthelmguiding members172 andl terminate a'dja. cent to the lower collar 125 and have :pairsof Wipers 174;` and 175 extending therefrom. These Wipers. extend.outward from the body ot each guiding member At0 film-outer. edge of thereenorcing-thread 171,'asshownin Attached tothe front film-.guidingmember 172 isvgarrossplate 176'which-piv`otally carries screws 17.7. and17.8 which.. n'turn are threadedin bosses 179 formed on-,each side ofthe post 40. .By-adjustingthesescrews the position o1* thelower end ofthe yfilm-guiding member l17,2 canbe varied. 2' I f1 A 4:similar crossplate ,180 is carried bythe rea-r 7film-guidingA memberl 1,73 andpivotally holds two` screws 181 and -182fwhich thread into bosses 183formed on each sident the postje() andallow the'position `ofl the` lowerend. yof 4the .rear filmeguiding member-to be adjusted. `In operation,the screws .1717.` 178, 1 81, and 182Aare 'adjusted so .thatthe wipers17 4 and 175 of the two ilmgniding members lightly touch .thefrontf andrear faces ofthe lm.- lAtlle Hlm moves upward these, .wipers remove anyexcess of bondingmaterial which would tend .to .thicken .the l.edges 'of.the film, As this excess bondingr material forms on the lower edgesotthe wipers,.it.1hardens"and eventuallybri dges the gap. between thewipers and thebasefplate.v 121. .This brid'ge g can easilyhe removedifdesired. but I have ffound thatit, in no way aectsthe-,successof theabove described operation y By Iadjusting thedistance .bet een thepairsof; wipers 174; and 17 5, thethicknessptthe bonding. V material on the,edge of. fthe' film can .be varied. yFor instance, lif ythe screws 1,77,178, 181, and 182 were tonbe adjusted to iucreasethe. distance betweenthedower ends Qf. the. Lm-buldnsmembers'. and .con seq u'enxtlyffbetweenthe pairspffwipers, less -Offthefbondiee mate-rial. .will-be removedfbvthese ivi-ners and-the .edges Qftheflmwillhe reenforced with a thicknessof bonding .mate rial which-is greater'than thethickness` of the film.'.By 'decreasing' :the .spacing of the wipers the reentorcing edge canfbereduced toa thickness equal to the lmitself., In the event that a thickedge .is desired, thespeed of thelilm4 can `be decreased. or tlieneedlevalves. 140 can be. adjusted to supply a greater amountofrbondingmaterial. 4 ,fr

--I"=ig...12 shows acrosssection ofthereenforced-film Yafter .leavingthe bonding unit 64. The, reentorcing threads.17-1..are {virmlyAembedded Ain the bonding material. By using a bonding materialcontaining. dissolved celluloid the reenter-ring means forms apartotthe.1.m.itse1f by @Qhlfile t0. .the eelluloid backing 59 and hardeninginto a mass unitary therewith. The' .grinding .operation clears theemulsionfrom a surface of the Celluloid backing 59 as previouslydescribed, thusoffering an additional surface of celluloid to-.theaction 'ofthe bonding material. It should be noticed in Fig. 12 that thecorners of theemulsion 58 which were removed by the grinderare replacedby ,bonding material. Secured. to the post L10 directlyabove the bondingunit 64 is the exhaust tank 65 which forms vertical passage throughwhich the ilm riseS..l The vertical passage is connected tothe upper-endo-a reclaiming tank 186 by means. o--a pipe as 'indicateddiagrammatically inV Fig. 1., The lower endv of the declaiming tank isconnected to an exhaust fan indicated bythe numeral 187. The exhaust fanissuitablyi driven by means not shown, and draws a current of airthrough the vertical-passageot the'exhausttanl; 65, past the film 57therein; and through the reclaiming tankf'lSGpl l f The solution usedto'dissolve thecelluloid iniformingthebonding material is highlyvolatilex and evaporates-shortly. .after being exposed tothe atmosphere,ing some instances forming explosive vapors; The exhaust tank 65 removespractically all offthese vapors, carrying themthrough the reclaimingrtank 18,5,.H'It5shou1d be Iunderstood that the exhaustItank-couldbemadeas long as desired and could completely surround the bonding .unitaidesired,.without .departing-.from the spiritfot my invention. Its objectis toremove ,the vapors and assist -in the drying of thefilm-eDisposed-inthe tank'. 186 .is arefrigeration poil which' is; adapted; tosuddenly cool the. 'vapors .passing throughr the. reclaiming tank.This.. sudden coolingA condenses-v Vthese .vapors on the, outer surfacefoi therefrigeration vpoilu-188,;- rom whichx the condensates drip.into-..a.fsuitable receptacle189.. These condensates ,Caribe used over.and overvagain in makingmpreibonding material. JI have `found thatinexcessof 8O percentof 'the solutioaused in dissolvingthe Celluloid inthe bonding material can be recovered-and reused. This isgespeciallytrue if a similar: exhaust and` condensation. .means is employed for thefumes in.the drying tank .50i` Inso far asthese materials` are usuallyexpensive, a .considerable savingin costresultsrorn afrecove'ryotwhat'might otherwisenot only. go to waste, butprovea menace to thesafe-operation ofthev machine. .1 Mountedonthe post by a band 190 abovethe eXha-usttank is the talc box 66. The positionfot the talc boX 66 onthe post 4.() canbe adjustedj by loosening the set screw .19,1vwhich isthreadedly receivedbythe band V19() and which; bearsrlagainstthe post40. The talc-box 66has vwalls 192 and a slotted b.cover 193,@.Two trapdoors 194 .and 195 are hingedfat 196 and 197 to the front-and rearwalls'192. Vhenin their horizontal position resting on stops 198, thesedoors effectively meet, and close the openingat the bottom of the walls192 with the exception of two small holes, half of each h ole beingformed by a notch 199 cut in each end of the doors 194 and 195. Thefilm' 57 raises the inner edges of the doors as it passes therethrough,these inner edges lightly contacting the front and rear surfaces ofthefilm.

@The openings formedA by the notches 199 allow the reenforced edges ofthe film to pass through untouched by the trap doors 194 and 195. The.space inside the walls 192 contains a talc powder 201- which rests on.the trap doors 194 and 195. Asthe film'57 rises, a coating of the powder201 is applied to all portions of it, including the still partially wetedge reenforcement. I v

I A pair of ybrushes 204 are hingedfrto the front and rear walls 192 andlean against the 4faces of the film 57as it passes. The brushes 2 04 areofsuch a width as to brush only the picture and sprocketehole portionsofthe film 57, allowing the reenforced edges to go unbrushed, YThe film57 passes through the slotted `top' and over the film sprocket 47 asbefore described.

` I'prefe'r Vto use a talc as'a coating medium in the talc box V66.Thi'stalc is effectively applied to th film by passingit through 'thepile of powder 201, and the excess is dustedv :from the central portion'of the'film by the brushes 204, this,excess dropping again onto the'pile 201. This talcing operation'not' only' `pre vents the reenforcededges of the l'ilmfrom sticking should' they contact anything' beforethoroughly' dry. but also adds' t6 the useful life'` of the film byacting as, alubricant when the'film passes'through a projector.'

It is within the 'scope of my invention to 'use any'm'aterial forcoating the film which will tend "tp make the reenforcing members less'`sticky or to dry them, and`l do'not wish to be limited to theuse of atalcfpowder.

In operating my invention a portion of film 57 'is' threaded through theapparatus as previously'des'cribed, or a length' of film to bereenforced mav be joined to a film already in the machine. The threads171 are threaded through'the bonding unit as previously'described, andeach is tied through a. sprocket hole of the film- 57. The tank 120 isfilled with a, bonding material and the valve 134 opened, thus applyingpressure'to the upper surface of the bonding material inv" the tank 120;The needle valves 140 are carefully adjusted'by means of' the thumbscrews 141 to supply the desired amount Vof bonding material to thewells 144 of the base plate 121.

The motor 37 is then energized, thus turning the driving sprocket 28,the winding reel 21, the drying fan`58, and the grinder 62. As thesprocket 28 revolves it pulls' the film from the unwinding reel throughthe brake 60. The brake 60 applies a tension to the entire film betweenthe driving sprocket 28and the brake 60. As the film rises, the grinder62 removes the edges of the emulsion 58, and the bonding unit appliesbonding material to the edges of the film and to the reenforcing threadmoving al-ong with the film, finally uniting the thread and the film bymeans of the bonding material. Any excess bonding material is removed bythe wipers 173 and 174. The bonding material dries quickly andispartially dried in the exhaust tank 65 before it reaches the talc box66. After receiving its coating of talc the film passes upward anddownward through the vertical tank 50 where it is completely dried by astream of heated air sent upward by the, dry'- ing fan 53. The film 57after being thoroughly dried, is wound on the winding reel 21.

The speed of the machine can be controlled by means of the frictiondiscs 84 and 35 which not only vary the speed of the film, butsimultaneously the speed of the drying fan 53 and the grinder 62. Theamount of emulsion removed from the faces of the film 57 adjacent to theedges is controlled by the amount of the weight 107. The amount ofbonding material applied Ais controlled by the needle valve 140 and theamount of pressure in the tank 133. Finally the tension of the threadcan be regulated by means of the thumb screws 169.y

-When the machine is stopped the valve 184 is closed, the pressurerelease valve 130 is opened,"and the needle valves 140 closed, thuskeeping the bonding material remaining in the tank'120'sealed, yand thepressure on it approximately atmospheric vFrom the foregoing, theadvantages of my apparatus are obvious. I do not wish my inf 'vention tobe limited to the form of apparatus shown, for obviously differentembodiments of it could be used. For instance, any braking means couldbe used in place of the felt pads 77 and 88. So also, any means ofdriving the grinder and adjusting the tension thereof, as wellas otherforms of abrasive apparatus might be used to accomplish my purpose.

Itiswithin the scope of my invention to place the spools 167 of thread171 in a bath lof bonding material, or in any other way to firstsaturate the thread with bonding material before applying it to the film57. Furthermore other bonding units 64 might be mounted on the post 40and therising film subjected to successive reenforcing operations. Forinstance,v a lower bonding unit might coat the edge of the film withbonding material and apply a saturated or unsaturated thread, and asecond bonding unit might apply a further coat of bonding material.

Neither do I wish my invention to be lim- A ited by the path of the film57 shown, The film 57 may be run up several hundred feet before beingbent over a' sprocket and the drying means may be. applied just afterthe film has been reenforced and before it is bent, thus keeping itstraight While drying.r

It is l also Within the scope, of my invention to extend thefilm-guiding members 172 and l'upirerd. tbsotsh the exhaust tank 65 andthe talc boxl 66; in which case the brushes 204; may be dispensedwvith7inasmuch as no talc would then be applied-to the picture porti.onS orframes, vof, the film.

have found it advantageous in certain applications of my invention tosaturate only *i the thread with the bonding material, and

ffl

subsequently bringing thesaturated thread into contact with the dry edgeof the film7 allowingtto dry in place. Thus I do not 'Wish'tobelimitedtogthe .wetting of both thread andfilin edge in reenforcing the film.

.I clai'm asmy invention:

l, A device adapted to, apply a reenforcing member; to a filmcomprising: means for guiding saidreenforcing member along an edge ofsaid nlm in the plane thereof; and means forsupplying-a bonding materialto said film and said. reenforcng member for securing themAv together. vIn a device for reenforcing motion-pim ture/film, the combination ofmcans f o'l'ref iiw'viesltb@ emulsion adjacent' t0J the edges fa'motion-picture film; means for guiding atlete-ad .inte a position.adjacent t0 the eds@ oit-said, film atclmeansfer Supplying a bond; ingmaterial to said film and said thread for securing-them,togetherf, 1

i d; 'In afdevice for reenfo'rcing motion-pic.- ttut the illetmhnation..0f @nietes for' re-Y "the emulsin adjacent tethe @dass 0f .eetten-lineair@ 51m; meansfer guiding t thread-"toward 'the'edge ofY saidfilm and at au. angle .thereto and .means for Supplying a bonding mate lto said film and said thread for. @hiring ,theintogtherg 4..- In adevicef6.1.' lreeufotciils motion-Pi@- ,ttue filet, the @cinematica @lf2means-'fit1' f@- mevg the velnlsien adiacente the @dees of'@nerim-picture' lmlneans for guiding a threadinto'a position adjacent tothe edge Qf, .Saidflltt means for Supplying a bonding material to.Said.. 511.11 and. Said thread vfor se. cnlfnsthm tesether and 'meansfor removee" any GXCQSS; 0f boudins material.

i 5 ln a 'device for reenforcng motion-nilttte 51111,' the Combinationof 2 means for removingthelcmulsion' adj acent to-t the edges of tmotonrritttre Hlm; meansffer guidi. e f1 thread into a position adjacentto the 1ridge of Saifllm; means for, Supplying bonding material to saidfilm and said thread for securing them together; and means for dryingSaid filul '6l 'Infttdev for reenorcing motion-Pic- :ture film7 theVvcombinatiorf o "f: means ferr@- member to a film comprising:ygmtomatic t means for removing a portionoffhe emulsion of said film;means for guiding said reenforcing member into a position yadjacent tosaid film; means for supplying a bonding material to said film and 'saidreenforcing member; and means for joining said reen-.

forcing member to said film.

8. A device adapted to apply a reenforcing member to a film comprising Lmeans .for moving the film through the device; means operativesimultaneously with the movement of the film for removing a. portionofthe emulsion therefrom; means for guidingsaid reenforcing member intoa position adjacent to said film; and means for supplying a bondingmaterial to said film and said reenforcing member. l

9. A device adapted to apply a reenforcing member to a film comprising:meansfor continuously moving the film through; the device; means'operative by` the.movement.fof said film for removinga portion oftheemulsion therefrom; `means' for guidingsaidl reenforoing member into a:position adjacent to said film; means for-applying a bonding materialto said film and said reenforcing 1nember;va -nd mea-ns for .joiningsaidreenforcinv member to said r l0. device adapted to applya-reenforcing member to a comprising: means for continuously moving themeans operative by the movement ofthe film forI removing a portion ofthe emulsion therefrom; means for guiding said reenforcing member into apositionadjaoent to said.l film; means for applying a bondingmaterialtoothellllf covered portion of said film; and means fo;`attaching said reenforcing member-to said film. I',

1l, A device adapted to apply a reenforcing member to theedge of a fil-mcomprising: means for moving a film through said device; means operativeby the movementof said film for. removing a portion of the emulsiontherefrom; guide means for guiding said reenforcing member into aposition adjacent to the edge of said film; means for applying a bondingmaterial to the edge of said film and to said reenforcing member; andmeans for attaching said reenforeing member .to said film.

l2. A device adapted to apply'- a reenforcing member to a filmcomprising; means for continuously moving the film; means actu'- atedSimultaneously with the increment Qf the film for removing a portion ofthe emulsion therefrom; means lfor guiding said reenforcing member intoa position adjacent to said film and means for applying a bondingmaterial to said uncovered edge of said film and to said re'enforcingmember for securing them together.

13. A device for reenforfing film comprising: means for moving the filmthrough said device; means for removing a portion of the' emulsion fromthe edge of the film during the movement of said film; means for guidingsaid reenforcing member into a position ad* jacent to said film; andmeans for applying a bonding material to the edge of said film and tosaid reeuforcing member.

14. A device for reenforcing film compris ing: mechanism for moving afilm through said device; means actuated simultaneously with themovement of the film for 'removing a portion of the emulsion fromsaidfilm; means for guiding a rcenforcing member into a positionadjacent to said't film; and means for applying a. bonding material tosaid film and said reenforci'ng' member. l l

15. A device for reenforcing film'com'pris'- ing: mechanism forcontinuously movingf'a film through said device; means operable bythe'movement of thefilm for removing a por'- tion of the emulsiontherefrom; al reenfoiic ing member adapted fory attachment' tolth'e edgeof saidfilm; means for guidingsaid'reenforcing member into a positionladjacent to said film; means for applying afbonding' material to theuncovered porti'on'of said film and to said reenforcing member;Yandi'neans for regulating the lamount of saidbonding material suppliedto said film and to said re'- enforcing member."

16. A device for reenforcing lm'compris'- ing: a mechanism forcontinuouslymovinjg a film through the device; means for'gu'iding areenforcing member into a positionv'adjacent to the edge of saidfilm;m`eans for'sup'fplying a bonding material to said film 'andreenforcing member for securing them to'- getlier; and means forregulating the Iamount of bonding material to be supplied'tc'fsaid filmand reenforcing member. j

17. A device forreenforcing film comprising: a mechanism for moving oradvancing 'a film to be reenforcedgmeans forv guiding a reenforcingmember into `a position adjacent to said film; braking means for saidfilm and reenforcing member; means for supplying a bonding materialtosaid film and reenforcing member; and means for removing excess bondingmaterial from said filmA andfreenforcing member.

18. A device for attaching' a reenforcing member to a film comprising: amechanism for advancing a film to be lreenfoiced, said reenforcingmember adapted for connection to an edge of said film; means actuated bythe movement of said film for removing a Leve, 317

portion of the emulsion therefrom; means for applying a bonding materialto said film and reenforcing member for connecting them together;braking means for said film and res removing emulsion acent to alongitudinal edge of said filmg'meansfor guiding a reenforcing threadtoward saidl edge of said film and at an angle thereto and means'forsupplyin`fa bonding materialy to said film and said t read lfor securingthemtogether.

i. '421i' I n adevice Ifor, reenforcing motionpic'ture film; thecombination ofi means for removing emulsion 'adj acent: to alngitudinaledge of said film means for guiding a thread into a position. parallelto said edge of said film; means' 'for' supplyin a bonding ,material tosaidl edgeiofisaid' filin and said thread and lsecuring them'together;and'means for removing anexcessjof bonding material.

l v22.11; lajdev'ioe' forI reenforcingl motionpicturefilm;l 'the'combination of:r means for removing emulsion adjacent to a longitudinaledges1 o fsaidfilm means forfguiding a thread into apositon adjacent-,tol an edge of said f ilm';l means 'forisupplyinga bondin mate e;

I y; fsfaidffilinfand,said-threadgan 4means fenontolliigthe mant 0fbonding mate;-

iaprlied.; I N12'. .5 In a". device" forl reenforcing ,motionL picture*film; 4the combination fof: means for guidingyalreenforcing thread in aplane parallelto: a longitudinal edge of said film.; means forlsupplying a bondingmaterial to lsaid edgejof'svai'd ,and :said thread;and means clirjattachingsaid thread to saidY edge of said 24 Inf'adevice for-"reenforcing motionpictu e fi'lmjjthe combination of: meansfor guiding' areenforcing thread'in a plane parallel to an edge'of-fsaid film; means for supplying a bonding `,material to said thread;andmeans for attaching said thread, tosaid edge o fflsaid l 25.911,1 adeviceffor reenforcing a motionpicture lfilm, the combination of: meansfor guiding areenforcingthread into a position adjacent vto alongitudinal edge of said film; and-means for' supplying a bondingmaterial to said edge off-said film and said thread, said guidingmeans'efi'ecting the bonding of said thread to 'said edge of said film.

26. In a device for reenforcing motionpicture film, the combination of:means for moving a film through said device; guide means for guiding areenforcing thread in a plane parallel to an edge of said film; .and

means for supplying a bonding material to said edge of said film andsaid thread, said film moving means cooperating with said guide means tocause the bonding of said thread and said l'm.

27. In a device for reenforcing motionpicture film, the combination of:means for y continuously advancing a film through said device; guidemeans associated With said advancing means for guiding a reenforcingthread into a position adjacent an edge of said film; and means forsupplying a bonding material to said film and said thread, said lmadvancing means cooperating With said guide means to connect said threadto said film edge.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Riverside,California, this 2nd day of October, 1928.

CHARLES H. MEEKER.

